Dance Academy discussion

A large empty studio. Often used by the Royal Ballet when they come through

Sydney walked in, looking around and chatting busily on her phone about her upcoming recruiting visit to the Dance Academy.

It was late might, few of the lights on as the last of the dancers packed up. Sydney, however, was deeply immersed, studying resumes in a half splits on the floor, one leg like she was sitting criss crossed, the other pointed out in splits. She chewed on her pen, playing with her small gold necklace, her bun perfect around her face. She was silently thankful she had worn a sweater, as the doors were standing open, and there was a terrible fall draft

It was late might, few of the lights on as the last of the dancers packed up. Sydney, however, was deeply immersed, studying resumes in a half splits on the floor, one leg like she was sitting criss crossed, the other pointed out in splits. She chewed on her pen, playing with her small gold necklace, her bun perfect around her face. She was silently thankful she had worn a sweater, as the doors were standing open, and there was a terrible fall draft

She didn't raise her eyes to him, focused. "S' alright. You mused auditions."she said, not pausing on her analyzing

She laid back flexibly, closing her eyes and throwing her arms over her head. "No. I'm fine. You and Christian got the male lead, by the way"she replied.

She sat up, smiling and gathering her papers. "Please. My first show that I'm directing and choreographing?"she chuckled putting them all in a file folder.

She blushed, looking down to hide it as she puked keys from her bag, rising and switching off all lights, graving her pink coat in the pitch dark, searching for the door

She turned, locking the door before shooting him a look as she turned. She had given Ethan many chances, and he had never shown interest. So what was this. She walked towards the board walk, as that was the quickest way to her apartment

She smiled slowly, her coat in her hands as she looked up sat the stars. "Thanks"she said walking silently into the nose of the boardwalk, the bright, flashing games and yelling performers, loud bars.

She smiled, leaning against a blank spot of railing and looking out at the water. "Kat is just busy. And yes.. I do."she smiled, recalling those times in between tours. "Yes, I do"she laughed, looking down. "I always lost"she smiled after pouting jokingly

She nodded. "I will. And no. she didn't. She got the role of black swan," she turned slightly, her eyes studying her face as the flashing nearby club lights reflected off her ivory porcelain cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, but could find nothing to say, and instead watched the people pass.

She followed him slowly, smiling warmly. "Um..chocolate please"she whispered, finding herself tired and leaning in him in line. It could be taken as a friendly gesture, yet she frightfully doubted it would be.

She brushed back a stay strand of hair, not touching her ice cream. "Well, my carers moving up, so I'm excited. I keep hoping I'll net someone"she chuckled nearly silent.

She smiled, them sighed, watching a few people exiting the club. "I thought I did, but I don't think I do anymore. I have no chance with him,"she smiled, looking up at his blond hair.

She got up and threw her unbeaten ice cream in a nearby trash bin. She quickly skid into her coat. She sat and crossed her arms. "Since I'm not a bratty child anymore. I grew up ask those times you avoided me in between tours Ethan,"she spat, not even realizing what she was dating until it was gone

She looked , biting her lip and blushing. "I'm sorry"

She smiled, trying to laugh light heartedly. "I didn't mean to say that."she bit her lop, realizing it was all the anger from his rejection that had come out.

She stood, following him. "So how've you been,"she smiled politely.

She smiled with perfectly formed lips, though they were a bit thin. She was a good deal shorter than him, and extremely petite, not at all well endowed. This was what pushed most men away. She shrugged. "Hm, I don't know. A steady place and friends to return to. Sounds nice," she smiled, her hands in her pockets.

She nodded slowly, shrugging and walking on ahead.

((A guy from a bar should like try and get her and kiss her cheek and make Ethan mad))

She turned, glancing over at the muscular man. He was about 22, and had provided security for several of her shows. "Matt," she smiled timidly, glancing up at his broad smile, curly brown hair and freckled face.

She nodded, shrugging to get his arm off, yet it remained unmoving. "Umm..I agree with you. I'll get in touch Matt. But I..need to go," she said nervoudly, taking a step towards Ethan to no avail.

"I can't, I have an early day tomorrow," she excused, looking very shakenly over at Ethan, her eyes wide.

Sydney, knowing Matt's strength and putting her arms around Ethan's arm. "Please, boys..don't!" she ye;;ed.

She sighed, letting Ethan go and realizing pleading was futile as she leaned small against the rail.

"He's not my boyfriend!" she yelled before sighing, knowing Ethan was no match and leaning closer to him, closing her eyes.

Sydney wiped her face off, sickened and stunned, seeming unable to move.

She shrugged, watching the ground as she straightened her coat, waiting for the boardwalk lights to fade into the dark and the noise of the waves before answering. "I don't know,"

She stopped, fixing her bag on her shoulder, looking at him in the dark, clouded moonlight that struggled to get through. "What the heck is wrong with you?"

She sighed, her small eyes pleading up at him, though she wasn't sure he could see it in the blackness. "I'm so small..and I didn't want you to get hurt," she added.

"I was just looking out for you," she snapped quietly in a viscous tone.

"Says who? You?" she laughed hoarsely. "News flash, Karamakov! I'm older than you! Not a kid! Independent! Successful! I never needed anyone and I never will!" she spat, pushing him out of the way and walking down the black gravel path, wiping furiously at her eyes. She rounded the corner to her street, and slid down a wall at the side of her complex, close to crying.

"Just.." she sighed, holding onto his arms. "I'm not a kid anymore. I'm a capable, endowed young woman," she whispered against him, then silently marveling in how wonderful he smelled.

She pushed him back, looking hurt in the dim apartment lights. "Shut up Karamakov. You're heartless. Hope you're a better dancer than you are a person," she sniffed, walking to the apartment door and pulling her keys from her bag.

"Leave me alone" she said, not turning to look at him. "I'm above you- and I..I always have been. You've never done anything but cause me pain," she said, putting the key into the lock and sniffing nearly silently.

"See you in the morning. Practice starts at eight," she replied coldly, shutting the door in his face and locking it with a click, changing into her pajamas and collapsing into her bed.

By four the next morning she had left her apartment and was again sitting in the floor of the studio, wearing a lilac sweater and yoga pants, watching her papers, half the lights on with no one there.

She ignored him, looking up and speaking to a black male, nodding before looking back at the papers, her chest heaving with a sigh.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah smile, that'll fix it," she quipped as she clapped her hands together loudly, stepping away from him as she called all the white swans to dance, which included Ethan. Halfway through, she called the white princess swan to stop. "Do you even know what you're doing? You're slouching! You look like a hippo doing ballet!" she shouted. "White swan prince. Come here," she commanded him, refusing to call his name.

She gritted her jaw. "Karamakov. I won't endure disrespect. If you think your daddy can by your spot here, you are sadly mistaken." she demanded, appearing much older than she actually was, due to her demeanor.

"Position one, please," she said, watching him with a smooth, emotionless face.

((he should like..end up questioning her authority or skill))

She pressed her hand expertly to his back, straightening it out until his back hurt, ignoring his quips. "This, is a proper position one!" she called out to even those in the audience. "Semi-straight will no longer pass. This is how the professionals do it!" she commanded as she gave him a 'don't question me' look.

She tightened her jaw, her eyes darting to the sea of faces in a hidden panic, her neck tightening. "You never came to one of my shows Ethan. I'm just trying to help. You obviously don't think I have the skills, so let me show you how to shove it up your ass," she spat, fixing her bun and slipping out of her shoes. "We'll run through the swan court dance. I'll take the place of the princess." She knew it was a stupid move, and could get her killed if she landed too hard, but she pushed the thought from her mind, motioning for him to come over as she resisted the urge to cry.

((no she and his father are the only ones who know))

((it's fine. I actually think she should tell him to skip the jump where he picks her up but he doesnt))

"Hey, skip the jump in the end," she said, turning so he was at her back. She laced her slippers on incredibly fast, immediately going on pointe perfectly without a warmup. She nodded. "Five, six, seven, eight." She performed a perfect pirouette, leaping in a grand jete towards him, her every move light and graceful. She had missed it so much, yet hadn't lost a step, her feet lifting her on pointe in each move as if she were a feather, nearing him with each flawless move.

She carried on, drawing herself into a perfect arabesque as she felt him approach behind her,running his hand along her extended leg and to her hips, she turned slowly to face him as she locked her careful eyes on his.

Nearing the end, she slid smoothly to her flat feet, her hand on his chest as they circled with his hands on her hips. Realizing the end, she lifted her hand slightly, her eyes darting off as she was about to turn, oblivious to his thoughts.

She shot him a pained look, before glancing at the white swans, who looked surprised. "Posture. Weight. Grace. Think about it. We'll take 5" she said simply, walking all too quickly off the stage and dashing for the empty women's locker room.